GEK1510/PC1323 Online Assessment (Questions and Answers)

1) In a Feynman diagram, it is known that when the arm of a vertex is rotated, the direction of the
arrows in the line retain their direction with respect to the interaction point. For a particle entering a
vertex, the arrow will be directed towards the interaction point. If the arm of the vertex representing
this particle is now rotated so that it represents a particle leaving the vertex, the arrow will still point
towards the interaction point but it will be pointing in a backwards direction. What can we
understand from this statement?
[Answer]: This tells us that the particle leaving the reaction must be an antiparticle.
[CL]: Particle moving backward in time is equivalent to positive energy anti-particle (moving forward
in time).
2) What is a Feynman diagram/vertices? How should we usually read the diagram?
[Answer]: It is a symbolic diagram that allows us to calculate the amplitude of the probability of the
interaction occurred. Usually we read it from left to right (or vertically up if the time axis is flowing
upward) align with the time flow.
[CL]: There is no deterministic path in quantum theory. Feynman diagrams capture the probability of
the possible events.
3) In the spirit of particle physics, what are the fundamental interactions in nature and their
exchanged force mediator?
[Answer]: Electromagnetic (photons); Weak (W and Z boson), Strong (gluon), Gravity (graviton).
[CL]: From particle physics point of view, there are in total 4 fundamental forces with gravity
(graviton as the mediator boson) included. However, in standard model gravity usually is not treated
as part of the model.
4) Hadrons are grouping of quark/anti-quark pairs. ______________ consists of three quarks or three
anti-quarks, whereas ______________ contains a pair of quark/anti-quarks pair. All of them can be
classified into a geometrical structure called?
[Answer]: Baryon, Meson, Eight-Fold ways.
[CL]: Hadron consists of Baryon (3 quarks or 3 anti-quarks) and Meson (1 quark and 1 anti-quark).
All of them are colourless configuration so far we observed in nature.
5) In Standard Model, what are the main basic components of the particle zoo? How many families of
matter particles are there?
[Answer]: Leptons, Quarks and Interaction Boson. There are in total 2 families of matter particles.
[CL]: Particle Zoo includes both the matter and mediator of the force. There are 2 families of matter
particle, Hadron and Leptons.

6) The pprobability density

d
for an
n electron thaat has passed
d through an experimentaal apparatus is
i shown
in the figgure. If 41000 electrons paass through tthe apparatuss, what is thee expected nuumber that will
w land
in a 0.100 mm-wide strip
s
centered
d at x = 0.00 mm?

[Answerr]: 140
[CL]: W
With probabiliity density |
(x)|2, the proobability is given
g
by areaa under the ggraph from
x= - 0.055mm to x=0.05mm. For x>0,
x
the funcction of P(x)) is P(x)= -(0
0.333/3) x+ 00.333. At x=0.05mm,
we havee the height of
o the graph is
i P (0.05)=00.32745. Sim
milarly for x<0, the functiion P(x) = (0
0.333/3)x
+ 0.333 and also P(--0.05)= 0.327
745. The areea is thus 2 * (0.5) * (0.33
33+ 0.327455) (0.05) = 0..0330225.
The num
mber of particcle pass through the appaaratus is 4100* (0.033022
25) = 136 140.
7) How fast must a hydrogen
h
ato
om be travelinng for its kin
netic energy to be just eno
nough to exciite the
-19
( eV = 1.60 10 J, m h mproton = 1.67
ground-sstate atom too its first exciited state in a collision? (1
-27
10 kg)
[Answerr]: 44.2 km/ss
[CL]: E
E= -13.6eV [1/(2^2)
[
- 1]=
= mh v^2/2
v= 44.2 km//s
umbers of an electron in an
a atom, n, l, ml , and ms . The energy
y of an
8) Consiider the four quantum nu
electron in an isolateed atom depeends on
[Answerr]: n only; n and l only
[CL]: Thhe principle (general) eneergy of isolat
ated atom dep
pends on prin
nciple quantuum number n only.
Howeveer, due to relaativistic motiion of the eleectron and allso the spin-o
orbit couplinng of the elecctron
spin to th
the nuclear sppin, there aree correctionss to the principle energy. The correctiions are angu
ular
momenttum l dependdent. In this question,
q
I acccepted both solutions ab
bove.